Central Iowa has experienced tremendous momentum the last two decades. The region is thriving with impressive development downtown, in the suburbs and rural areas. We are attracting larger, international events, economic development is robust, and our culture is rich with variety and vibrancy.

But we cannot become complacent in our success. The framework of Capital Crossroads 2.0 pushes us to aim higher and dream bigger. A steering committee of 67 plus feedback from more than 3,000 central Iowans identified many priorities for our region over the next five years. It is the effort of the many organizations and volunteers involved with Capital Crossroads that will lay the groundwork for our future so that in 25 years we will see:

Jay Byers, a storyteller with the Des Moines Storytellers Project, will tell a tale about Iowa Pride on Saturday, Aug. 20, at the State Fair.(Photo: Special to the Register)

Central Iowa as a major tourist destination for water recreation. We will have 150 miles of water trails in our region connected by strong commerce, bed and breakfasts and recreational hubs. Tourists will come from miles away to experience downtown white-water rafting and surfing just steps away from the region’s best dining and retail.

More than 75 percent of working-age adults will have a post-secondary experience that is aligned with employer needs due to the work of EDGE (Education Drives our Greater Economy), an initiative of the Greater Des Moines Partnership and the United Way’s Bridges to Success.

A booming and diverse workforce with plenty of viable places to affordably live and play. We will see mixed-income housing near downtown and neighborhoods such as Union Park, Fairgrounds, Drake and Prospect Park will be not just stabilized, but also revitalized.

Angela Connolly(Photo: Iowa Department of Human Rights)

Our region’s city councils, school boards, supervisors and board rooms will be inclusive of all races, genders, ages and sexual orientation with each demographic represented and respected. Des Moines will be a best-in-class region for all to thrive.

Greater Des Moines will be known as a destination for the creative class to thrive in their craft and as business owners. Artist communities like Mainframe Studios and Barnum Factory offering affordable artist studio space will propel not just individual artists, but the entire community. And efforts led by Bravo Greater Des Moines and the Cultural Capital of Capital Crossroads will generate more spontaneous artistic and cultural connections with art on every corner and in every culture.

Central Iowans will have better and more access to food sources. In partnership with initiatives and organizations such as Hunger Free Polk County, Eat Greater Des Moines, the Iowa Hunger Summit and the Food Bank of Iowa, a comprehensive, unified, multi-platform, multi-functional initiative will position central Iowa as the nation’s capital of food-related programming. We will see numerous strategic activities related to the full spectrum of food cultivation, sale and consumption, which will in turn help revitalize neighborhoods and improve quality of life for many.

Our region will be a leader in integrated mental health and emotional well-being services. Adults and children of all income levels will have access to mental healthcare and holistic health will be a priority in the workplace.

The Cultivation Corridor will be recognized globally as the center for agbio and agtech investment, talent and research.

Kristi Knous(Photo: Special to the Register)

These goals do not just happen overnight or in a vacuum. It takes the work and dedication of many. All central Iowa communities and leaders must first be on board with the priorities and strategies, and then commit to seeing the projects through to fruition.

In the words of Henry Ford, “Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.” We hope you will join us in helping central Iowa achieve even greater success.

Jay Byers, Angela Connolly and Kristi Knous are tri-chairs of Capital Crossroads, an organization dedicated to providing positive opportunities for development in central Iowa.